Datong Discovery Tour with Hanging Monastery
Overview
The private 4-day tour of Datong features the most classic sights in and around this ancient city. Embark on a discovery journey for the mysterious Yungang Grottoes housing numerous vivid Buddha sculptures of different sizes, the sacred Mount Heng where the Hanging Monastery is surprisingly “hanging” on the air, and Yingxian Wooden Pagoda, a majestic all-wood structure. There’s also trip to Deshengbao Fortress, part of the endless Great Wall. If you’re after a unique Datong experience, here’s your chance.
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This morning transfer to visit Deshengbao Fortress, which is about 45km northwest of Datong. Deshengbao is an ancient walled fortress almost on the border with Inner Mongolia. There used to be 52 fortress along the 335-kilometer Datong Outer Great Wall. Deshengbao was an important fortresses among them. Take a leisure walk at the ancient garrison Town near the wall, it is said many houses inside the village were built with the bricks from the Great Wall.
In the afternoon, transfer to visit Yungang Grottoes. Located 16 kilometers West of Datong city, the Yungang Grottoes were carved on the southern foot of the mountain, stretching for 1000 meters from east to West. Nowadays, more than 51000 status remain, the largest one is 17 meters high and the smallest one is only few centimeters. Whether the huge or tiny, they are all delicately carved and today well protected. After admiring the sculpture arts of Yungang Grottoes, transfer back to hotel.
Meal: B, L
After breakfast at hotel, you will move to Hanging Monastery after one hour's driving. The Hanging Temple was magically built on the cliff of Mt. Hengshan and supported by wooden pillars. Mt. Hengshan is one of the five most scared mountains in China, and is the only existing temple that the hierarchy of Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism are worshipped here together.
Afterwards, drive another 1 hour to Yingxian Wooden Pagoda, which is the oldest and tallest wooden pagoda in the world. The pagoda is 115 years older and 12.57 meters taller than the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy. It is said no nail was used in the construction of nine-storey wooden structure. What a surprise and architectural masterpiece!
Meal: B, L
This morning, you will first visit Huayan Monastery which is located on the southwestern side of Datong city. It is the largest and best preserved Monastery of Liao Dynasty. The large-scaled Hall in the upper Huayan Monastery is really worth to visit. Afterwards, you will have short stop at Nine Dragon Wall, which is the oldest and largest screen wall in China. The dragons on the wall appears so vivid that it is hard to imagine they were built over 600 years ago.
After that, transfer to Datong rail station or airport for your departure. End of your 4 days Datong tour.
Meal: B, L
Service ends.
